Chain fastener



LEMAN Dec., 9, B. E. DOWNTON CHAIN FASTENER INVENTOF wazig/m wirgma w| NessEs a() M ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 9, 1924.

'UNiTED STATES 1,518,491 PATENT orties.

T BERTRAM E. DOWNTON, OF DEWEY, OKLAHOMA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHAR-LES E. SCHLAGLE, OF DEWEY, OKLAHOMA.

CHAIN FASTENER.

Application led June 30, 1924. Serial No. 723,311.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I. BERTRAM E. DOWN- ron, a citizen of the United States` residing at Dewey, in the county of Washington and @SState of Oklahoma, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Chain Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to chain fasteners.

e The object is to provide a device for connecting the end of chains together for varions purposes, but is particularly adapted for use in connection with tire chains on automobiles, where 1t 1s essential that the *fastening means maybe quickly operated to permit of the ready application of the chains.

Another object is to provide a simple, strong and durable fastening means for this purpose which, having few operating parts,

maybe cheaply manufactured and easily assembled, the device being free of screws, bolts, or springs.

A final object is to provide a fastening for chains which will not clog up with dirt or mud to resist the operation. and which may be locked or unlocked withoutthe use of a key or special tool, the locking means being proof against accidental separation and adapted, when applying the same to the chain, to take up the slack therein when the locking lever is swung into locking position.

A full and complete understanding` of the invention may be obtained from a considerav tion of the following detailed description,

taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, it being understood that while the drawing shows a practical form of the invention, the latter is not to be confined to Figure 3 is a plan view of the device in locked position.

Figure 4 is aside elevation of the saine.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional View thereof.

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical, transverse section taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a detail perspective view of the locking lever.

Figure 8 is a detail perspective view of the U-shaped keeper.

Referring to the drawing there is shown a fastening device in connection with the end links of a tire chain such as are used with trucks, automobiles, and other vehicles, but I wish it understood that the invention is capable of use for general purposes where it is desired to connect the ends of chains or any two relatively movable parts or members.

The invention comprises a pair of side plates 1 and 2 respectively, which are preferably elongated and identical in shape and formed by stamping from suitable sheet metal. At one end the plates are rounded and connected together bv a central rivet 3 which is adapted to be engaged by the end link 4 of a chain and to be permanently connected thereto. At the `other ends the plates are provided at one side of the longitudinal center thereof with rounded lugs or projections 5 which are suitably apertured for the reception of arrivet 6, the rivets 3 and 6 being applied in av manner to rigidly hold the plates in suitable, spaced relation to each other. The parts described may be characterized as one member to be connected by the means constituting my invention.

Mounted to rotate on the rivet 6- is a locking lever 7 formed of similar metal, and having at its inner or pivoted end a rounded enlargement 8 offsetto one side of said lever, and suitably apertured for the reception of said rivet 6` so that the lever may be freely swung about the same. The lever will be characterized as the movable member. At the other end the lever' is curved in the same direction, as at 9, and the terminal is provided with an eye l0 which` when the lever is swung into closed or locking position, as shown in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawing, is adapted to lie at the longitudinal center line of the side plates said rivets being adapted to receive the end link of Va chain, a locking lever having its inner end pivotally mounted on the other rivet to be swung so as to lie between the plates, thefree end of the lever being provided with an eye, said plates having horizontally alined pairs ot' apertures, one of said pairs being in alinement with the eye in the locking lever, and a U-shaped keeper mounted to slide transversely in the pairs of apertures to permit the closing of the looking lever and then to be pushed in to cause one of the arms of the U-shaped membei` to traverse the eye of said lever.

5. A tire chain fastener comprising spaced, connected side plates attached at one end to a. chain and having longitudinally alined pairs ot' apertures, one of the apertures of the innermost pair being smaller than the other, a U-shaped keeper mounted to slide transversely in the apertures, said keeper having a short leg mounted in the outermost apertures and adapted to free the passage between the plates when drawn outwardly, the long leg of the keeper being split and traversing the smaller inner aperture and having its terminal formed into a ballshaped head adapted to be sprung through the larger inner aperture in the other plate in either direction, and a looking lever pivoted at the other end of the plates and having its tree end provided with an eye adapted to aline with the short leg` of the keeper when the lever is swung to rest on the said head, and to be looked in closed position when the keeper is pushed in to force the head through the larger, inner aperture.

In testimony that l claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aiiixed my signature.

BERTRAM E. DOVVNTON. 

